Media & Entertainment

Over 1.7 million viewers tuned in for a Bilibili live streaming event in March that featured uploaders wearing classic Chinese attire. (Screenshot of Bilibili's streaming service)
4 July 2020
PlayStation 4 units come off the assembly line at a pace of about one every 30 seconds. (Photo by Kento Awashima)
Companies

PlayStation's secret weapon: a nearly all-automated factory

Robots carry on legacy of craftsmanship at little-known Kisarazu plant

4 July 2020
A man walks by a movie poster in Shanghai on Feb. 17. The coronavirus-induced closure of theaters across China has made for a long and frustrating wait for both cinephiles and the movie industry. 
Arts

Chinese film industry longs to be back in business

Coronavirus upsurge means cinemas are no closer to screening movies

3 July 2020
Sony's booth at the 2020 CES consumer electronics show in Las Vegas: The company wants to go from being primarily an electronics maker to a diversified conglomerate covering financial services, entertainment and more.
Companies

Sony hopes to shed 'conglomerate discount' under new name

CEO Yoshida faces test of sustaining share rally with post-pandemic vision

29 June 2020
Passengers are glued to their phones at Kuala Lumpur International Airport: Tencent will buy one of Malaysia's biggest streaming video companies.
Business deals

Tencent buys troubled Malaysian video streaming service iflix

Tech group aims to expand on-demand video business beyond China

26 June 2020
The K-pop fandom is diverse in the U.S. Attendees dance to K-pop songs at KCON USA, billed as the world's largest Korean culture convention and music festival, in Los Angeles.
Politics

For K-pop stans, tanking Trump's rally is just the start

'If we could sell out stadiums, we could also empty them out,' teens warn

25 June 2020
Under Jimmy Lai, Apple Daily is putting its focus on subscriptions after five years of losses driven by the withdrawal of advertisers who faced political pressure over their dealings with the pro-democracy publisher. (Source photos by Reuters and Kenji Kawase)
Media & Entertainment

Losses mount for Hong Kong's pro-democracy Apple Daily

Political pressures add to coronavirus impact on advertising for publisher Jimmy Lai

23 June 2020
Yomiuri Giants pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano throws against the Hanshin Tigers at Tokyo Dome during Japanese professional baseball season opening day action on June 19. (Photo by Hirofumi Yamamoto)
Media & Entertainment

Japan's baseball league places several bets on its future

Fans will be asked to watch in hotel rooms and cheer by using in-app tipping

20 June 2020
Two singers perform in front of live images of the audience during "Top Hits Thailand," an online music festival held in Bangkok on June 7 and streamed worldwide via Zoom.
Media & Entertainment

Thai music industry rocks with country's first online festival

Pandemic forces promoter to change tune, with concert held in a virtual venue

20 June 2020
Universal Studios Japan requires all visitors to wear face masks to curb the spread of the virus.
Travel & Leisure

Universal Studios reopens to Osaka-Kyoto-Nara travel bubble

Tourist businesses cautiously start up again with a focus on locals

20 June 2020
The online-only Super Junior concert on Naver's V Live service let fans participate through video calls. (Photo courtesy of Naver)
Companies

K-pop and comics drive Naver's strategy beyond Line-Yahoo merger

Korean tech company looks to entertainment as path into US and Europe

18 June 2020
Ng Chi-sum, left, and Tsang Chi-ho play the Dowager Empress and her palace eunuch in a segment of "Headliner," a popular satirical show that has been suspended by the authorities. (Courtesy of RTHK)
Life

Hong Kong satire forced off air as China clamps down on free speech

'Headliner' poked fun at authorities for 30 years until police force objected

17 June 2020
Japanese subculture, with its history of oversize global influence, is again powering back into the mainstream. 
The Big Story

From Netflix shows to Nintendo: the resurgence of Japanese cool

Tech is bringing anime, manga and even wrestling into the global mainstream

17 June 2020
Maria Ressa, executive editor and CEO of Rappler, arrives at the Manila Regional Trial Court on June 15.
Politics

Philippines' court finds journalist Maria Ressa guilty of libel

Verdict draws criticism from press freedom and human rights advocates

15 June 2020
Sony plans a sequel to the action game "Marvel's Spider-Man" for the PS5.
Business trends

Sony PS5 aims to beat cloud gaming to the punch by keeping users

Console and subscription model will combat US game rivals focused on 5G advances

13 June 2020
Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, speaks during an online interview with Nikkei.
Media & Entertainment

PS5 offers options for 'digital natives,' says CEO of Sony unit

Faster downloads will be key feature, as company pushes online model

12 June 2020
New Zealand rugby star Dan Carter trains ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby Aotearoa season, which begins this weekend after the country eradicated COVID-19.
Coronavirus

New Zealand kicks off post-pandemic era with weekend of rugby

Successful virus strategy allows for crowd-filled stadiums, then a reality check

12 June 2020
Sony has unveiled key details of the PS5 -- including its look.
Media & Entertainment

Sony's PlayStation5: What we know about the new game console

Titles and designs unveiled for next-generation unit but price remains a mystery

12 June 2020
A Hello Kitty balloon floats in a Macy's Thanksgiving day parade in New York: The iconic character was created in 1974.
Media & Entertainment

Hello Kitty franchise has first new chief in 60-year history

Sanrio's 92-year-old founder Shintaro Tsuji names grandson president

11 June 2020
Former iflix chairman Patrick Grove. The crisis at iflix comes after Singtel-backed streaming player HOOQ filed for liquidation earlier this year. (Nikkei Montage/Source photo by iflix)
DealStreetAsia

Malaysia's iflix in sale talks after co-founders exit

Video streaming platform adds distress specialists to board

11 June 2020
People wearing masks are seen in Kabukicho, a popular entertainment district in Tokyo, on May 4. (Photo by Kei Higuchi)
Coronavirus

Japan to seek contact information from those enjoying nightlife

Guidelines aim to prevent coronavirus hot spots at hostess bars and other venues

10 June 2020
Showroom, founded in 2013, is an interactive platform for artists and fans. (Photo courtesy of Showroom)
Media & Entertainment

Japan's music industry explores online concerts to cure virus blues

Livestreaming readies to storm onstage as pandemic plays on

7 June 2020
Hana Kimura, Goo Hara and Sulli are all suspected of dying from suicide caused by online bullying. (Source photos by Getty, AP and Reuters)
Comment

Cyberbullying: How Japan is following in South Korea's footsteps

Hana Kimura's death foreshadowed by Seoul's failure to stop K-pop suicides

7 June 2020
Australia's newspapers have seen revenue halve between 2009 and 2019.
Technology

Australia fights to make Google and Facebook pay for news

Coronavirus-hit media want 'fair' slice of $5bn ad revenue pie

5 June 2020
Hayato Sakamoto, a shortstop for the Yomiuri Giants, is one of two team players to test positive for the coronavirus.
Coronavirus

Two Yomiuri Giants baseball players test positive for coronavirus

They have shown no COVID-19 symptoms but will undergo further PCR exams

3 June 2020